What We Can't Live Without

Jesus told us, His followers, to stay connected to Him.
Why?  Because we can't do anything without Him. 

Apart from Me you can do nothing.

As helpless as a leaf fallen from a tree.
A branch disconnected from a vine.

I can see what Jesus means.

I've been very sick lately, so sick I couldn't write or read my Bible.

All I could do was say quick prayers like:

"God, please help me."
"God, please heal me."
" I submit to God and resist the devil."

Quick prayers.  That's it. 
Then I'd try to position myself in bed where I felt the least pain.
Those quick prayers were the best I could do to stay connected to Jesus by the Spirit.
Without Him, I could do nothing.  I needed Him to comfort me, and pray for me.

I'm better now, thank God.  Better meaning the moment it hits you that you actually feel "normal."

It's not just the sickness though.  It's life in this world.
All of it seems to be against us.  Sometimes it doesn't seem to let up.
Everywhere.  Every day. 

Sometimes it feels like I'm just holding on until Jesus returns.  When it feels like that, I know I can't make it another moment without the Spirit's leading and power.  Apart from Him, I can do nothing. 

What we can't live without is the Spirit of Christ.

If you agree, pray with me:

"Father, by Your Son, I depend on Your Spirit.  At this moment, every step I take, I take following Him.  Without Him, I'm lost.  Amen."

You Are Well Provided For

One day Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, "My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for.  Ruth 3:1


I read this and felt immediate comfort, and I hope you feel what I felt. 


I know that God, our Heavenly Father, loves us infinitely more than Naomi loved Ruth.  Jesus put it this way:


 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!   Matthew 7:9-11


I am a imperfect father, yet I do my best to make sure my children not only have a home and are provided for, but that they are well provided for. 


I'm encouraged and comforted by the love of Naomi and the love of even imperfect fathers like me, because I know that God's love as my heavenly Father is perfect. 


He not only finds a home for me, but he finds one where I am well provided for.
He does the same for you.

What Does YOUR NAME Mean?

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.  I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”  Ruth 1:20-21

Your name, what you are literally called, is in fact your calling.  The meaning of your name is who you are supposed to be, and what you are supposed to do.  It is the atmosphere your life is supposed to create.  A woman named Naomi understood this.

Naomi's husband and two sons died.  At the time of her life as an Israelite woman, this left her destitute and desperate, considering her life bitter by the hands of the Almighty.  So she no longer wanted to be called "Naomi," which means "pleasant."  Instead she felt her name should be "Mara," which means "bitter."  She believed her name should match who she really was and what her life was really like.  Naomi understood the significance of what you called her.  So does God, who gives names according His callings.  Look at how He does this:

• God said, "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations."
• God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah."
• God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
• God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel.

God called Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Israel.  Literally.  He called them by their names, by these new names, because of their new identities and destinies.  Their names, what they were literally called, was their calling.  The same is true for you.

What does your name mean?

If you don't already know the meaning of your name, you can look it up as soon as you finish reading my words.  The meaning of your name is who you are, or at least it should be.  Look up the meaning of your name and see if who you are fits what your name means.  If it doesn't, it should.  Or at least you should strive to be what you are literally called.

But what if your name has a "bad meaning," or no real meaning at all that you can find?  A man named Jabez was in your situation.  Listen to him:

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

The name "Jabez" sounds like the Hebrew word for pain.  But Jabez didn't want that to be his identity or destiny.  So Jabez prayed that it wouldn't be. And God granted his request.  The same is true for you if you feel the name your parents gave you doesn't express your God given identity and destiny. 

If you agree, pray with me:

"God, my Father and Creator, You alone know who I am, and what my name should be.  If the name that I have expresses who you see me to be, then affirm me.  If not, give me a new name, a new identity, my true destiny, that I may be who you see me to be.  In the name of Jesus, amen."

• If you don't know the meaning of your name, look it up right now. 
• If you already know it, and it is how God sees you, be the meaning of your name. 
• If your name doesn't express how God sees you, ask Him what to do.

 

How Does It Feel to Be Filled With The Spirit? (Part 1)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit...
The Apostle Paul

I heard a man who claimed to be a Christian refer to himself as a "spiritual bartender," who got believers "spiritually tipsy."  He said this in relation to being filled with the Spirit.  This is straight foolishness.  I write to expose it and replace it with the truth. 

Drunkenness is a "work of the flesh," according to the Apostle Paul.  The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are opposed to each other.  So being filled with the Spirit is not like being drunk on wine.  To be drunk on wine takes away your self control.  To be filled with the Spirit gives you complete self-control.  This principle is what distinguishes the Holy Spirit from Satanic spirits. 

• Satan wants you passive in mind and will.  In a trance.  Under hypnosis.  Mindless.  "Open."  Controlled. 
• The Holy Spirit wants your mind and will active, for you to be free, as it is written, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

So how does it feel to be "filled with the Spirit."

There is a connection between what Paul is saying about wine and the Spirit.  But remember, he uses the word "instead."  And remember, drunkenness is opposed to the Spirit's influence in your life.

Yet the word "influence" is the connection between wine and the Spirit.  Instead of being under the influence of wine, be under the influence of the Spirit.

Again, how does it feel to be under the Spirit's influence, versus under the influence of wine? 
Here is the difference:

• Wine is a substance.
• The Holy Spirit is A Person.

Substances like wine or drugs may alter your mind, emotions, body, and will.  Yet they do so impersonally.  But what is it like when a person influences your mind, emotions, will, and body, a person who wants to liberate and empower you? Click HERE to find out.

How does it feel To Be Filled with The Spirit? (Part 2)

Imagine the number one person in your life, the one who has made the biggest impact on you, positively or negatively.  It may be your father or mother, brother or sister, a teacher, or a friend.  Even an enemy.  Now when I say impact, I mean you think a certain way, or try to avoid thinking a certain way, because of this person.  Your emotional states are affected by how you've related to this person.  The choices you make are affected by decisions this person has made in your life that have shaped who you are.  When you are with this person, you feel like you can physically do anything, or like you can no nothing at all.  When you are under the influence of a powerful person, it feels like everything I just described. 

To be filled with the Spirit means He is the number one Person in your life, the one who impacts you to such an extent that He influences your every thought, emotion, and choice.  His presence determines your bodily actions because you've given your life to Him, to do whatever He wants. 

Imagine a man with his personal trainer.  He completely looks up to his trainer.  He wants a body just like his.  So he is willing to do whatever his trainer says, no matter how hard it is, no matter how much it hurts, if he can only look like his trainer.  In fact, the more it hurts, the better.  "Pain is weakness leaving the body!"  When this man is with his personal trainer, he is completely under the trainer's influence. His mind is filled with his trainer's words.  His emotions are filled with his trainer's energy.  His will is completely, knowingly, willingly, and actively, submitted to the will of his trainer.  He moves his body at his trainers command. 

Think of the Spirit as your personal trainer, then do what you would do with your personal trainer.  Imagine the Spirit of God, who is in you, right there with you, just like a personal trainer would be.  The mindset you would have with your personal trainer, one of  being completely teachable, one of a complete follower, is the exact mindset to have with the Holy Spirit.  When someone is with a personal trainer, she comes completely open to whatever the plan of the trainer is.  Do the same with the Spirit.  Ask Him what the plan is, and wait for Him to give it to you, whatever it is. 

If you agree, pray with me:

"Our Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, I submit to Your Spirit as my Personal Trainer.  I place myself completely under His authority, under His influence.  I will allow my mind to be filled with His thoughts, my emotions with His passions, and my will one with His will.  I will say what He tells me, and do what He tells me to do with my body."

Now listen to your Personal Trainer. 
Be filled with the Spirit.

 

How To Be Led By the Spirit in 5 MINUTES

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

After you read this post, you'll know how to follow the Spirit every day of your life, for the rest of your life.

Daniel prayed three times a day.  That's the first thing for you to do:

1. Divide your day into three parts:  Beginning, Middle, and End.
For example.  Say you work a 12 hour job.  There are three 4 hour segments in your work day.  You get to work in the first segment.  You most likely take a break by the second segment, and you are getting ready to get off in the third.  These are the sections of your work day.  Having divided your work day, go to the next step.

2.  Take 5 minutes at the beginning of these 3 segments to pray.  When you pray, tell God what you have in mind to do, what your plans are.  NOT HIS PLANS, FOR NOW.  Yours.  I'll explain this later.

3.  Having told God YOUR plans (NOT ASKING FOR HIS), see if you sense "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding."  If you do, then you know you are in agreement with God's will, and you should proceed with your plans.  If you don't feel perfect incomprehensible peace that can only be described as from God, then go to YOUR "plan b," and c, and d, until you do sense God's peace.

Take at least 5 minutes of uninterrupted time in prayer to seek God's perfect incomprehensible peace at the beginning, middle, and end of your day, whether it is your work day, or your time at home.

Now, why did I focus you on what YOUR plans are and NOT God's plans? 

In this "stage," it's easier to know what you want to do.  Some believers try to "discern God's will" and they can't...because they are so distracted by their own will.  God knows this.  You know this.  So instead of trying to act like you're trying to find God's will at the time, be honest.  God knows what's plaguing your mind.  I'm not saying to disregard God's will, or to not seek His will.  I'm saying start where you are in your maturity with Christ.  If you are at a place where you can silence your mind, spirit, and emotions and genuinely seek God's will, do that. 

But if you're learning to follow the Spirit, the beginning stage is like with young children.  At first, you just say "yes," and "no" to their requests. Young children aren't usually going to come to their parents and say, "Daddy and Mommy, let your kingdom come and your will be done in my life. Not mine will but thine be done!"  They are immature and thus, to a certain extent, self-centered.  But parents work with them from where they are.  God does the same.

You know what you have in mind, and you also know that you do want God's will to be done in your life, even if its' not your will.  So start with your will, and see if it agrees with His will through Him giving you peace in prayer.  As you grow, you will begin to be "neutral" spiritually. This means when you do already have something in mind, you won't be hell bent on it.  You can go either way.  Or, you really won't have any preference at all because you've come to know that God's will is so much better than yours. 

You know where you are in your relationship with Jesus. 
Everything I've written can help you, no matter the stage of your walk with Him.

If you agree, pray this prayer with me:

"Father in heaven, I plan to seek your will, three times a day at least for five minutes at least.  Starting now.  In Jesus name.  Amen."

Now take 5 solid minutes to pray to God. 
Let me know how it went.

What It Means To Be CALLED (Part 2)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."  Isaiah 43:1b

To be called is to be summoned, chosen, and empowered for a specific task that only you can do.  The key word to focus on is SPECIFIC.

Only you can be what you are called to be, and do what you are called to do. 

This is how you know your calling.

 

There was only one Noah, and only he could build the ark.

There was only one Abraham, and only he could have Isaac.

There was only one Sarah, and only she could mother Isaac.

 

One Moses.

One Joshua.

One you.

 

In fact, you can imagine your calling as the literal calling of your name, what you are literally "called." Your name is your calling, the meaning of your name and the reputation of your name.  We see this  consistently with God, who gave and changed names.  We see it from the beginning of his summoning or callings of created things.  He named all of creation.  He named the man. The man named woman, and the first woman.  Each name was a calling.

 

God changed Abram's name to Abraham, and Sarai's name to Sarah.

God gave the name Isaac to the child of promise, and the name Israel to Jacob.

Each name was a calling. 

 

The names of John the Baptist and the name of Jesus were their callings from God.

 

It's the same with you.

You are called by name, by your specific name. 

Only you are you, and only you can be you.

 

To know and experience your callings in life, all that is necessary is to see what you alone are, and what you alone can do.  If you agree, pray with me:

 

"God, my Creator, I honor You in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.  Thank you for making me.  Thank You for saving me.  Thank You for indwelling me by Your Spirit. You knit me together in my mother's womb and created my inmost being.  I am Yours.  You are mine.  We are one.  I dedicate my life to fulfilling my calling, to fulfill the purpose for which You made me.  Only I can be me.  Only I can do what You made me to do.  Thank you.  Amen."

 

Now look into your life and see the unique places you hold in relationships to others.  For example, I only am the husband of my wife and the father of my children.  These are my callings.  I alone, as Olatunde, son of God, am writing to you right now what the Spirit gives me, and is giving me alone.  There is no other Olatunde in all of creation writing this blog that you are reading. 

 

In the same way, there are things that only you are doing and can do.  These things are obvious.  These things are what you are called to do.  Do them for God's glory and fulfill your destiny.